Taping machine



0a. 15, 1935. c, A OL EN 2,017,727

TAPING MACHINE FiledOct. s, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 'i Oct. 15, 1935. c. A. OLSEN TAPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 195:5

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1935. OLSEN 2,017,727

TAPING MACHINE Filed Oct. a, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Inversion C'arZA. 05%,

, @dmmd Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPING MACHINE of Massachusetts Application October 3, 1933, Serial No. 691,966

12 Claims. (01. 154-42) This invention relates to a machine for applying tape to sheet articles, and particularly to irregular articles such as shoe uppers. Tape of this type ordinarily is covered with an adhesive which permits the adhesive application of the tape under pressure to a marginal or other portion of a shoe upper. In many cases it is desirable to have the tape follow a rather sharply curved edge of the upper, and this invention relates to a machine particularly suitable for this purpose.

The present invention affords a machine of the general class which may be provided by rebuilding a conventional sewing machine, employing a presser foot, a feeding foot and feed- 5 ing plate or dog, the shuttle, and the needle obviously being removed. The present invention particularly afiords a more advantageous mechanism for feeding the tape under proper tension to the presser foot and a cutter adapted to cut the tape under proper conditions topermit rapid application of the tape to successive small sheet articles such as the uppers of shoes.

In the application of tape to sheet articles, and particularly such articles formed of a somewhat yieldable elastic material such as leather, it is desirable to apply the tape under a limited degree of tension, avoiding tension sufiicient to cause distinct pulling or curling of the sheet article to which the tape has been applied, but employing sufiicient tension to permit the tape to fit the surface of the sheet article firmly and to afiord a definite reinforcement.

Ordinarily the tape is supplied to the taping machine from a roll consisting of successive, ad-

hesive1y coated convolutions of the tape in adhesive engagement with each other; thus it requires an appreciable pull to draw the tape run from the roll. The present invention affords mechanism particularly adapted to pull the tape run from the roll in this manner and to feed the tape to the presser foot under the proper degree of tension to assure the firm application of the tape in adhesive engagement with the leather of the upper, while avoiding application under too 5 great tension such as would result in an undesirable tendency of the leather to curl.

To permit these desirable results, a continuous- 1y rotating, corrugated, knurled or plain wheel is rovided and a movable support or lever is arranged so that it may move the tape into and out of engagement with the feeding roll as determined by the tension of the tape passing from the tape guide to the presser foot. This mechanism is provided automatically to assure the proper control of the tension upon the tape and yet to assure the pulling of the tape from the roll under all conditions of operation. Preferably the moving support or lever carries a roller over which the tape passes, this roller being moved into and out of juxtaposition with the continu- 5 ously rotatable, smooth or toothed roller, as determined by the tension upon the tape passing to the presser foot, so that under ordinary driving conditions the tape may be received between the rolls and may be positively engaged by the 10' as it is being drawn from the tape roll. 15

Associated with this mechanism is a cutter device including a cutter element and a movable support for the same, the latter being adapted to be actuated through a suitable operating pedal, lever or the like, and being effective to 20 cause momentary relief of the tension upon the tape being drawn from the tape roll so that the tendency to feed the tape to the guide is momentarily interrupted as the tape is being cut. The cutter itself is arranged in such a manner that 25 a leader portion of the tape is provided for advance movement under the presser foot after the cutting operation so that this leader portion is ready for application to the next succeeding sheet article.

This invention affords an arrangement whereby a sheet article may be fed under the presser foot and above the adhesively coated surface of the tape, the tape being fed below the sheet article. A suitable edge guide is provided for the 35 edge of the sheet article and suitable tape guid ing instrumentalities are afforded. The cutter is provided with means to prevent the accidental catching or dragging of the sheet article upon the sharp cutting edge of the cutter under any 40 operative conditions.

Further features of the invention relate to the manner of mounting the tape r011 and the manner of guiding the tape run from the roll to the tension governing mechanism. 45

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tape applying and feeding portions of the machine, the tension governing portion thereof, the cutter device, and related parts; 5

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions which they occupy after the cutter has been moved to cutting position.

- Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the assembly shown in Fig. 2; 55

Fig. 4 is a top view of a part of this assembly showing the cutter, the tape guide. and feed plate;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the tape roll and associated parts;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of a portion of the assembly shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is an elevational detail view of the presser foot, feeding foot and plate in one portion of the operating cycle;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on line 8--8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing an optional tape supplying arrangement;

Fig. 10 is a top view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, showing a portion of this tape-supplying arrangement; and

Fig. 11 is a section on line ll-ll of Fig. 10.

In the accompanying drawings, the'numeral l designates the frame of the machine, which may be of the general form of a conventional sewing machine. The feeding foot and plate mechanism may be of the character commonly employed in sewing machines, having a suitable size to engage tape of the width being employed, while the presser foot may have a somewhat greater dimension than usual to assure proper engagement with relatively wide tapes. The feeding foot is designated by the numeral 2 while the cooperating feeding plate is designated by numeral 3, the enlarged presser foot 4 being attached to the conventional operating rod 5.

The driving mechanism for these parts may be of the conventional type, but, since the needle is removed, a chain drive is not required and a belt may be conveniently substituted. This driving mechanism is arranged to operate a shaft 6, substituted for the conventional shuttle shaft and projecting from the end of the machine to support a roller l0 which may be either smooth or toothed, and under normal operating conditions, is being constantly driven.

Pivotally mounted on the end of the machine adjoining roller Ill is a support or arm I I secured to the frame by the pivot element [2 and. carrying a roller M which is adapted to be moved into and out of juxtaposed relation with the roller H) as the arm is swung upwardly or downwardly. The outer end of arm ll carries another roller l3 and is provided with an upwardly extending projection 15. Mounted above and somewhat in front of the roller I0 is an oscillating shaft it to which a tape guide arm I9 is fixed, the latter being provided with a roller 20 over which the tape may pass and also having a transverse shaft or pin 20% extending between parallel side portions thereof and supporting a spring-pressed catch or ratchet element 2| having a-beveled or pointed edge adapted to engage the surface of the tape passing over roll 20 toprevent rearward movement of this tape under any operating condition.

Pivotally mounted on pin 20 is a sheet metal tape guide 25; a spring 25 tends to press guide 26 downwardly against a stop 32 on the frame I. The guide is provided with a struck-up intermediate tab or lip portion 21 which defines a slot through which the tape passes to the feeding foot 2 and the feeding plate or dog 3 under normal operating conditions. Freely swinging upon the shaft I8 is a cutter support 35 having a slot in which a cutter element 31 is retained. This element is provided with a beveled edge portion divided into separate sharp prongs or teeth 31, but has projections 38 at each side extending beyond or above the teeth, thus to engage the lower surface of a sheet article and to prevent the same from catching upon the teeth.

The end of the cutter support 35 remote from 5 I arm 42, illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, connected to an operating link 43 that may be in turn connected to any conventional operating 15 pedal or the like. Thus when the operating link 43 is pulled downwardly, the arm 42 is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, thus swinging the tape guide support l9 downwardly until it engages the striker member 39 and causes 20 the'cutter element 31 to advance past the end of the fixed flange 32 to engage the tape between the retracted tape guide 26 and the presser foot 4. Thus the tape run is severed.- As soon as pressure upon the operating pedal is re- 25 leased, the shaft l8 may return to its normal position under the control of a spring (not shown) associated with link 43 and the cutter element may move downwardly independently under the action of a spring 46.

When the cutter projects into the normal path of the tape to cut the latter as shown in Fig. 2, the arm [9 engages projection I5 of arm II, the latter moves downwardly, moving the roller I4 away from the driven roller It] so that the 85 pull on the tape run extending from the tape roll is momentarily interrupted, and there is no tendency to overfeed the tape.

Under normal driving conditions, should the driven roller iii tend to draw the tape from the tape roll at too great a speed so as to supply the tape without sufficient tension to the feeding and pressing mechanism, the arm H, which is held in its position illustrated in Fig. 1 only due to the tension of the tape extending from roller I3, 45 would tend to drop slightly, thus partially or wholly releasing the tape from engagement with the driven feed roller I0. Thus automatic means is afforded to assure the proper tension of the tape as it passes about roller 13 and over roller 20 to the tape guide and the feeding parts 2 and 3 and the presser foot 4.

In order to assist in the proper positioning of the tape upon the sheet article, any suitable edge guide may be afiorded, such as the guide 50 which is mounted on or integral with a plate 5| detachably secured to the bed of the machine (Fig. 3).

The tape rollpreferably is mounted back of the machine adjoining the post 53 in the posi- 00 tion illustrated in Fig. 5, the tape passing from this roll about a roll 6| rotatable about a vertical axis, then extending into a channel or trough 62 which may conveniently be formed of sheet metal and affords a guard for the tape run as it 65 follows a path adjoining the back of the bed of the machine toward the end thereof. The guard 62 is supported on a bracket 63 (Fig. 1) connected to the rear part of the bed of the machine. The end of the member 62 supports an inclined roller 64, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and a second roller 65 with its axis disposed at an angle to the inclined roller 64, which is slightly greater than a right angle. The axis of roller 65 is inclined at a small angle to a horizontal line parallel to the axis of the driven shaft 6. The tape from the tape roller 60 passes about the roller 6| into the channel 62, thence over the roller 64, making substantially a quarter turn as it passes to the roller 65 from which, with a slight twist, it normally passes between rollers I6 and I4.

In order to permit adjustment of the tension of the tape passing to the rolls I and I4, the roller 6| may be provided with friction brake means of the type illustrated in Fig. 8. For this purpose the central spindle I0 may be provided with an adjustable thumb screw H pressing a steel washer l2 downwardly against a coil compression spring M, the washer and spring being disposed within the roller 6|. The lower end of spring 14 may press a steel washer against a fiber washer I5, which frictionally engages an internal annular flange upon the roller BI, and presses the flange against a second washer 76. Thus tightening of the thumb screw increases the pressure with which the spring I 3 presses the steel washer 75 against the friction member 16, and the pressure with which the flange engages the washer 16 This arrangement permits variation in the tension of the tape passing from the tape roll 60 to the tension-governing mechanism and permits compensation for variations in the tension of the tape leaving the tape roll B6.

In the operation of a machine of this character tape from the tape roll 66 passes in the manner just described between the rollers I4 and I0. Under normal operating conditions the tension on the tape run extending from the roller I3 to the presser foot assembly and to the roller I4 causes the arm I I to occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 1, thus causing the roller M to' press the tape upwardly into engagement with the constantly rotatable roller I0, which is effective in pulling the tape from the tape roll 60 and overcoming the friction imparted to the roller BI by the brake means. The spring-pressed dog 2| prevents the reverse movement of the tape when the feeding foot 2 and the presser foot 4 are disengaged from the tape. Under such conditions there may be a momentary slacking of the tension upon the tape run extending to the presser foot, and there may be a slight tendency for the arm II to drop to separate the rollers I4 and I0. Under such conditions or under any operating conditions the arrangement of the rollers I0 and I4 and of the arm II is such that the tension of the tape passing to the presser foot is maintained substantially constant, thus permitting the application of the tape under proper tension to the sheet article. The firm driving engagement of the surface of the driven roller 10 tends to prevent the adhesively coated surface of the tape from sticking to the roller I4, and the tension of the tape run extending to roller I3 aids this effect. It is obvious that the sheet article is fed to the presser foot above the tape, as indicated in Fig. 1; the edge guide aifords convenient means for guiding the sheet article.

It is of course understood that the parts 2 and 3 reciprocate through a short path between the front and back of the machine from the positions shown in Fig. 2 to the positions shown in Fig. 7, whereupon the feeding foot 2 moves upwardly away from the feeding plate and the parts, while separated, move forwardly, whereupon the feeding foot again moves downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the parts 3 and 2 are separated, the presser foot I moves downwardly to press or stamp a limited area of the sheet article against the adhesively coated surface of the tape (Fig. 1). When-the feeding foot 2 again moves toward the feeding plate 3 to advance both the tape and sheet article, the presser foot is moved upwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. 5

It is thus evident that the mechanism operates to pull the tape by a step-by-step movement, while the driven roller I0 is constantly rotatable. The relief of the sheet article and tape from positive engagement with the parts 2 and 3 permits, however, the momentary slacking of the ten sion on the tape run extending from the roller I 3 and a slight momentary lowering of the arm II. Under all operating conditions, therefore, the feeding means is arranged so that the positively driven feeding roller II] will only feed the tape when the same is being applied under tension to the sheet article.

When the rod 43 is moved to rotate shaft I8,

the arm I9 swings downwardly moving the sheet metal guide 26 away from the presser foot and permitting a portion of the tape to project beyond the guide 26. As the member 28 continues its downward movement it engages the striker 39 to cause the projection of the cutter element 3's into the path of the tape. Under these conditions the support I 9 engagesthe projection I5 at the end of lever II to swing the latter downwardly, thus preventing positive feeding of the tape when the cutter is being projected to cut- 30' ting position. .When the tape guide 26 is re turned to normal position the dog 2i prevents the tape from moving back through the guide so that the severed end portion of the tape projecting beyond the guide is projected forwardly beneath the feeding foot 3. Thus as the cutter 31 is automatically retracted, a leader end portion of the tape is advanced beneath the feeding foot for engagement with the next suceeding sheet article; thus the machine permits the rapid ap- 1 plication of adhesively coated reinforcing tape under proper tension to successive sheet articles. A machine of this type wherein the tape isadvanced by step-by-step movement and intermittently pressed in engagement with successive localized areas of the sheet article is particularly advantageous in permitting the effective application of the tape to a curved edge of the article, as, for example, the curved edge of the throat portion of a shoe upper. 60

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate an optional and present preferred tape-supply arrangement which may be employed in place of that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. In this embodiment of the invention, a tape roll 60 may be arranged in the same manner as'previously described, to feed a tape about a friction roll 6| having a vertical axis and thence through a sheet metal guard I62, which prevents possible adhesive attachment of the shoe upper or the like with the coated surface of the tape passing to the presser mechanism.

The tape run passes from the guard I62 about a roller I64 which may rotate on a vertically disposed axis provided by a pin I65 fixed to the 6B bracket I66. From the roller I64 the tape may make a half turn in passing beneath a bushing I57 integral with the swinging support or lever I I and rotatable on a fixed pin I68 projecting from the end of the frame. The tape may then pass 70 between the rolls I0 and I4 in the manner already described.

Preferably the bracket I66 is provided with slots I70 (Fig. 10) which permit its lateral adjustment, suitable screw threaded fastening eleplane as the edge of guide 50. so that the inner edge of the tape continues in the same plane as it passes from bushing IE! to guide thus accurate application of the tape to the sheet article is facilitated.

The arrangement of the tape passing under the bushing I61 and the arrangement of the brake means associated with roller 6|, aids in permitting the feeding of the tape under proper tension despite wide variations in the tightness of the winding of the tape on the original supply roll 69, and variations in the adhesive qualities of the tape coating, temperature and moisture conditions and the like, which tend to affect the tension which is necessary in order to draw the tape run from the roll 60. These arrangements permit a proper snubbing action upon the tape to avoid overfeeding, although only a relatively light pull may be required to draw the tape from the roll Gil.

It should be understood that the present disosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A taping machine comprising a presser member, a cooperating part in relation to which the presser is movable to press tape on a sheet article, feeding means to grip the tape and supply it to the presser member, and cooperating rolls arranged to receive a run of the tape therebetween to pull the tape from a tape roll and supply it to the feeding means, a movable support for one of said rolls arranged so that the rolls may be spaced apart or juxtaposed, said support having a part engageable with the tape between said rolls and the feeding means, whereby the position of the support and relative position of the rolls is controlled by the tension of the tape extending from the rolls to the feeding means.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a frame, a reciprocating presser foot, a bed with which the presser foot cooperates to press tape upon a sheet article, a feeding foot and a cooperating feeding dog movable to feed material to a position between the presser foot and bed, a swinging support, a roll mounted on the support, a cooperating roll mounted on the frame, the support being movable to dispose the rolls in relative juxtaposition or spaced relation, a part upon the support about which a run of tape may extend, and a support for the tape roll arranged to supply a run of the tape between said rolls and about said part to said feeding dog and feeding foot, the support and part being arranged so that the tension of the tape extending to the feeding foot automatically determines the relative positioning of the rolls to cause the rolls to be juxtaposed to grip tape therebetween and feed the tape when the tension on the tape increases, and to cause the rolls to separate to prevent feeding of the tape when the tension upon the tape is reduced, whereby the tape may be fed under substantially uniform tension to the presser foot.

3. A machine of the class described comprising means to press tape upon a sheet article, a sup- 5 port for a roll of tape, and mechanism to draw the tape from the tape rolland to supply it to the presser means, said mechanism including a driven roller and an idler roller movable away from and toward each other and arranged when in juxtaposed relation to grip a tape run and draw it from the tape roll, the mechanism being arranged automatically to vary the relative positioning of the rollers in response to the degree of tension upon the tape run extending to the presser means, whereby the tape may be fed to these members under substantially uniform tension.

4. A machine of the class described comprising means to press tape upon a sheet article, a support for a roll of tape, and mechanism to draw the tape from the tape roll and to supply it to the presser means, said mechanism including a driven roller and an idler roller movable away from and toward each other and arranged when juxtaposed relation to grip a tape run and draw it from the tape roll, the mechanism being arranged automatically to vary the relative posifioning of the rolls in response to the degree of tension upon the tape run extending to the presser means, whereby the tape may be fed under substantially uniform tension, a cutter element, selectively operable control means to project said cutter member into cutting position to sever the tape adjoining the presser means, said 36 mechanism being arranged automatically to separate the rolls and prevent feeding of the tape toward the presser means when the cutter element is thus projected.

5. A machine of the class described comprising 4.0 a substantially vertically reciprocable presser foot, a cooperating fixed bed, a substantially horizontally reciprocable feeding plate and feeding foot, a driven shaft having a corrugated roller at its end, an arm pivotally mounted on the ma- 45 chine and carrying a roller movable into and out of juxtaposition with said corrugated roller, a part upon the outer end of said arm, a tape roll support arranged to hold a tape roll with a tape run extending from the tape roll between said 50 rollers and about said part to the feeding plate and feeding foot, the swinging arm and said part being arranged to hold the idler roller in juxtaposition to the corrugated roller when there is substantial tension on the tape run extending to the feeding foot and plate and to permit separation of the idler roller and the corrugated roller when the tension upon this part of the tape run is reduced, whereby tape is automatically fed to the presser foot under substantially uniform tension.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a substantially vertically reciprocable presser foot, a cooperating fixed bed, a substantially horizontally reciprocable feeding plate and feeding foot, a driven shaft having a corrugated roller at its end, an arm pivotally mounted on the machine and carrying a roller movable into and out of juxtaposition with said corrugated roller, a part upon the outer end of said am, a tape roll 7 0 support arranged to hold a roll of tape with a run extending from the tape roll between said rollers and about said part to the feeding plate and feeding foot, the swinging arm and said part being arranged to hold the idler roller in juxtaposition to the corrugated roller when there is substantial tension on the tape run extending to the feeding foot and plate and to permit separation of the idler roller and the corrugated roller when the tension upon this part of the tape run is reduced whereby tape is automatically fed torthe presser foot under substantially uniform tension, and a cutter device including a swinging support, a cutter element mounted on the support and projectable to a position to cut the tape adjoining the feeding foot and plate, and means selectively operable thus to swing the support and cutter element, said means being arranged so that the arm is moved to separate the rollers and interrupt the feeding of tape by the same when the cutter element is thus projected.

7. A taping machine comprising a frame, relatively movable presser members supported by the frame, a tape roll support, guiding means to direct a tape run from a roll upon the support to the presser members, a movable cutter, selectively operable means for projecting the cutter into the path of the tape run adjoining the presser means thus to sever the tape, said tape guiding means being arranged to feed the tape into a position beneath a sheet article to which the tape is to be adhesively applied, the cutter element having a cutting edge portion and projections at either side of its edge portion to prevent a sheet article from accidentally being cut by the cutting edge.

8. A machine of the class described having a frame in the general form of the frame of a conventional sewing machine including a bed, post, and head, a movable presser foot, means for feeding the tape to the presser foot comprising a tape roll support adjoining the back of the post, tape guiding means including a plurality of rolls arranged to feed the tape from a tape roll upon said support to the front of the machine and then beneath the presser foot so that the tape may be pressed in adhesive engagement with a superposed sheet article, and adjustable friction brake means associated with one of the rolls of the guide means to vary the tension of the tape.

9. A machine of the class described having a frame in the general form of a frame of the conventional sewing machine including a bed, post and head, a movable presser foot, means for supplying the tape to the presser foot comprising a tape roll support, guiding parts arranged to feed the tape from a tape roll upon said support to the front of the machine and then beneath the presser foot so that the tape may be pressed in adhesive engagement with a superposed sheet article, and mechanism associated with said parts automatically to assure the feeding of the tape to the presser foot under substantially uniform tension, said tape supplying means including a roll about which the tape passes, and fric- 5 tion brake means associated with said last-named roll to vary the tension of the tape passing to said mechanism.

10. A taping machine comprising presser means to press tape upon a sheet article, a pair of feed rolls, means for positively driving one of said rolls, means controlled by the tension of tape passing to the presser means to vary the relative positions of the rolls so that tape passing therebetween may be engaged in the bite of the rolls or pass in spaced relation to one of said rolls, and tape supply means to receive the tape from a supply roll and direct it to said pair of rolls, said means including two guide rolls about which the tape passes, said guide rolls having parallel axes in a plane parallel to the axes of said feed rolls.

11. A taping machine comprising presser means to press tape upon a sheet article, a pair of feed rolls, means for positively driving one of said rolls, means controlled by the tension of tape passing to the presser means to vary the relative positions of the rolls so that tape passing therebetween may be engaged in the bite of the rolls or pass in spaced relation to one of said rolls, and tape supply means to receive the tape from a supply roll and direct it to said pair of rolls, said means including two guide rolls about which the tape passes, said guide rolls having parallel axes in a plane parallel to the axes of said feed rolls, the axes of said feed rolls extending in directions substantially at right angles to the direction of extent of the axes of said two rolls.

12. A taping machine comprising presser means to press tape upon a sheet article, a pair of feed 40 rolls, means for positively driving one of said rolls, means controlled by the tension of tape passing to the presser means to vary the relative positions of the rolls so that tape passing therebetween may be engaged in the bite of the rolls or pass in spaced relation to one of said rolls, and tape supply means to receive the tape from a supply roll and direct it to said pair of rolls, said means including two guide rolls about which the tape passes, said guide rolls having parallel axes in a plane parallel to the axes of said feed rolls, and adjustable friction brake means associated with one of the guide rolls oi! the supply means.

CARL A. OLSEN. 5 

